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Outsmart The ChaosTue, 28 Jul 2015 15:57:30 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.2Why #RediscoverNature is on You Momhttp://www.gomominc.com/why-rediscovernature-is-on-you-mom
http://www.gomominc.com/why-rediscovernature-is-on-you-mom#commentsTue, 28 Jul 2015 14:29:03 +0000http://www.gomominc.com/?p=10459photo credit freedigitalphotos.net Not a typical post today, but I’ve got a bit of a bee in my bonnet about the Nature Valley #RediscoverNature advertising campaign and I’m sure some of you won’t love what I have to say. Have you seen the beautifully produced video “Nature Valley 3 Generations #RediscoverNature ? Check it out… A wonderful snapshot into generational memories, the #RediscoverNature video highlights three generations in a handful of families and asks the

Not a typical post today, but I’ve got a bit of a bee in my bonnet about the Nature Valley #RediscoverNature advertising campaign and I’m sure some of you won’t love what I have to say. Have you seen the beautifully produced video “Nature Valley 3 Generations #RediscoverNature ? Check it out…

A wonderful snapshot into generational memories, the #RediscoverNature video highlights three generations in a handful of families and asks the grandparent, parent, and child what their favorite thing to do was/is as a child. The older two generations share answers that are full of precious memories of playing outside for hours on end, creating games with their friends, enjoying nature, growing things, and all kinds of childhood mischief. The third generation’s answers, children growing up today, are exclusively technology based. Email, video games, text messaging and doing it for hours on end.

When the camera returns to the parents for a response to their children’s answers, they express fear, sadness, and concern about how future generations of children will not even know what it means to play outside.

And here is where I get feisty.

I don’t accept a version of childhood more heavily rooted in technology than creative and nature. But I also don’t accept a version of parenting that doesn’t accept responsibility for the reality they directly create. Children don’t have access to technology unless its given to them. And sadly that fear, sadness and concern for the future in this video likely isn’t enough to override a daily reality that they know in their gut they know is wrong but would require major lifestyle changes on their part to change. They aren’t choosing better for their family regardless of what surrounds them. They are following in spite of themselves.

How could it be different?

Parents could make sure that at least in their home, children will play outside like they did, know how to be bored with nothing to do yet play endlessly doing exactly what they want to do, creatively without technology, outside. Parents could accept the fact that no matter how busy they think they are, it is in fact their job and no one else to provide an upbringing that is not dominated by technology but creatively based and nature immersed. Parents could understand that what they took for granted as a child, playing outside and creating their own fun, now has to be protected and provided to their own children and yes that makes for some doing on their part. And parents could realize that just as their parents taught them to embrace the world outside, they are responsible for doing the same. And its as important a responsibility as providing them food, shelter, clothing, and more. Playing outside is childhood 101, as basic as it comes.

I am so tired of the sentiment that technology can’t be controlled, that kids “have” to have it, that we live in a STEM world and the only way to succeed is to push our kids off the super competitive academic, scientific, mathematic cliff, and this acceptance of a new kind of childhood that is nature and creativity free. I’m so agitated with whomever the parent is that starts these technology dominos in our children’s social circles. The ones where kids show up to elementary school with a smartphone and have social network accounts long before the TOS indicates they are eligible. Yet the parent so often will say their child is “mature” or “responsible” enough to justify breaking the rules. The parenting playing field is only ever more complicated because of it and I’m not a fan, but I’m so totally not giving in.

Accepting technology as the dominant force in shaping childhood is simply outrageous. I’d propose that as uncomforatable as it sounds, this is parental justification that digitizing childhood without considering the long term effects for our children and their futures is okay. Its justification that its okay to hand your child a phone or a tablet in infancy and toddlerhood to “learn” when so often its done to distract or keep them busy so you can get things done without distraction. Because interaction with children is too often seen as a distraction in our overcommitted world. My heart breaks seeing children in restaurants with tablets to entertain them while their parents talk. Its justification that handheld devices and social networks in elementary school are somehow necessary in spite of breaking all the TOS rules. Its justification that the teenage years are hard enough so a dinner table at home full of family members buried in their smartphones, not a conversation among them, is just keeping the peace. And to the Moms who say there is no way to get through Target without distracting their child digitally? So completely not true 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Been there, done that, and forgive me for being so bold but you’ve got that time spent together with those little people totally wrong if that’s the best you can do.

You can survive dinner with teenagers and have a face to face conversation with them limited as it might be. Yes it can be a season of personality conflicts but its also so much about simply being there, available to talk when they are willing, and showing them you are in their corner. If that dinner out is really a wishful date night then do whatever it takes to get a sitter to meet your child’s needs while you spend quality time together as a couple. And that means device free for you too. And in that same season of raising little people, oh yes, I promise that you absolutely CAN do errands without a phone or tablet to distract your young children. Sure sometimes you’ll get more done than than less, and you might even have to totally abandon a shopping cart or two, I’m serious. But the only way your child will learn patience over immediate gratification is spending that kind of time with you, doing what needs to be done and chatting your way through. And the only way your child will learn the nuance of interpersonal communication is by interacting with you, face to face, fully present.

Is it easy to avoid technology? No, but mothering has never been easy and that’s just the way it is. Is it frustrating to find that you have so little company when you choose an less digitized lifestyle? Sometimes but its the ultimate example of following your core values instead of societal influences. Is it worth it? A resounding heck yes!

Just this past spring I had the blessing of returning to Walt Disney World for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Just my daughter and I this time, we had so much fun in the parks for hours on end. One morning we chose to ride Its a Small World in the Magic Kingdom. Seated in front of us in the boat was a family, parents and one child. We had noticed the child in line because she was literally glued to the tablet in her hand to the point that her Mom had to move her along the line, never once looking up. Once they got seated on the ride, the Mom took the tablet and so ensued what was literally a physical struggle between the mother child for the entire duration of the ride. She lurched across her Mom trying to get into her bag to get back the tablet. She threatened to get off mid ride unless her Mom gave her the tablet. She tried to punch her Mom to get back the tablet. And this went on for the entire time. My daughter and I sat with our jaws open I’m sure, shocked at how this continued. The child was at Walt Disney World, in the Magic Kingdom, and entirely unable to disconnect.

That simply cannot be okay Mom.

If you this video makes you feel uncomfortable, scared, or guilty then do something about it. Do whatever it takes to make nature part of your child’s world. Do whatever it takes to create opportunities for imaginations to run free. Do whatever it takes to make sure that your child is encouraged to think outside the box the old fashioned way ~ without a device to help them get there. There is time enough to spend hours online in their adult futures. If you teach them now how to center themselves with nature and creativity, they’ll know exactly how to take the best care possible of themselves when they need it the most.

And that’s a generational legacy worth investing in. Tell me…

How do you #RediscoverNature with your family?

With children spanning middle school to college, I’ve seen such a dramatic change when it comes to the influence of technology and how children are being raised surrounded by and immersed in it at every turn. My opinions are personal and strong about why fighting for a traditional childhood that involves playing outside, creativity without parental leadership, and tons of physical activity is key to their future success as adults. I’ve got nothing but gut instinct on this one, no degree to validate my thoughts. Simply a strong passion for less is more when it comes to technology and childhood. I hope you find it a worthy perspective to consider alongside your own.

]]>http://www.gomominc.com/why-rediscovernature-is-on-you-mom/feed0Online Safety for Kids ~ Why it’s Worth the Fighthttp://www.gomominc.com/online-safety-for-kids-why-its-worth-the-fight
http://www.gomominc.com/online-safety-for-kids-why-its-worth-the-fight#commentsMon, 20 Jul 2015 13:21:25 +0000http://www.gomominc.com/?p=10451photo credit freedigitalphotos.net Online safety for kids is a tough topic in our house. With four laptops, a desktop, and that new frontier where everyone has a handheld device, we are constantly navigating how to raise young adults who can actually communicate face to face, stay focused on the task at hand, and not turn to their online world before they engage in the world before their eyes. To know me is to know I’m

Online safety for kids is a tough topic in our house. With four laptops, a desktop, and that new frontier where everyone has a handheld device, we are constantly navigating how to raise young adults who can actually communicate face to face, stay focused on the task at hand, and not turn to their online world before they engage in the world before their eyes. To know me is to know I’m an “in real life” kind of gal, happy to have a phone conversation or visit in person, often with a hug, and always with a genuine interest in actually be engaged face to face. I’m a communicator and while I love my work online, its events and in person team work that I love the most.

When Domain.Me asked me to join this campaign, I din’t think twice as we are truly in the hardest parenting season of our lives. Because our kids span middle school to college, our concerns about online safety for our kids at each stage are unique and the social and parenting mountains to scale seem monumental. Uncharted territory for all, this is a generation of children who are challenged to know how to truly hang out and make their own fun in the summer, to know how to be truly bored with nothing to do and survive that by turning to a book to get lost in or use their creative mind, to know how to go along for something as simple as daily errands without a device to distract them, to know how to pick up a phone and have an actual conversation with friends and family.

And all of this is learned behavior. Culturally. Generationally. And sadly inside the home. Parents have always and forever will be the gate keepers, value teachers, habit makers, and more. So this is an issue that is the ultimate do as I say and based on what we’ve seen change over the years, I’m not sure we doing such great job.

In our home, our parenting journey has been defined by learning by trial and error for our first and then do our best to apply what worked well as we bring along his siblings. While our 2nd child is close enough in age for this to be feasible, we’ve come to realize that the tsunami of digital influences that could consume our youngest child compared to our older children at the same age is a societal, generational force and not one we are in full agreement with. Which means in order to instill the values and character traits why want our children to aspire too, we’ll have to fight “But Mom everyone else is!” every step of the way. The good news is that’s nothing new.

Just to put the change in dynamic in perspective, when it was time for our oldest son to get a cell phone, there wasn’t even a consideration that texting might be part of the deal. It wast widely used, he wasn’t interested in it, and so it wasn’t an issue. But as we near that same milestone for our youngest, we have found that all of her friends, before even getting to middle school, now have either smartphones or other devices that enable them to text and go online at anytime. Beyond technologically savvy, knowing how to access WiFi anywhere and everywhere they go, the scary part is they rarely understand the dangers of unsecured Wifi that isn’t password protected nor the risks in having device settings that share locations.

I was shocked to learn that as early as 4th grade, many of my daughter’s classmates had social apps like KIK and SnapChat on their phones and used them often, finding them fun. You can’t blame them. Having a group of classmates to chat with outside of school or share pictures with seems cool enough. But the stark reality is that these largely unmonitorable apps open the door for all kinds of social risks because kids don’t even realize exist. They have no idea that just because they are by themselves typing what they think, their words or actions are in no way private but also largely untraceable which presents an even greater danger.

We’ve heard painful story after story of kids “saying” things they’d never say in person to someone’s face, sharing pictures having no idea that they really can be saved and shared without your permission thanks to a quick screenshot, all the while parents completely unaware the app has even been downloaded. Because their online world isn’t tangible, children are missing the cause and effect of social interaction, not being able to see someone’s reaction to their words or understand the nuance in a facial expression. The risk of a generational weakness for social compassion and grace is one of our greatest concerns for our youngest child.

And then there are social networks. We waited until our oldest was 14 to give him access to Facebook. Even though the TOS said 13 we just felt it was a privilege better left of high school, giving him the change to mature and understand that whatever he says online is a true reflection of who he is and therefore we wanted to give him time to learn that self control. Our middle child had no interest in Facebook because Twittter had risen to the social network of choice. The parenting challenge here is that not only were the kids on Twitter, again hard to navigate because its so wide open, but high schools themselves have turned to Twitter to communication daily announcements, sports updates, even teachers using Twitter for assignments. We’ve found ourselves in the office more than once asking why a teacher would use a social network like Twitter for updates when Blackboard and so many other school sanctioned websites exists. Apparently this is a site based decision and one we don’t support.

However for our daughter, its all about the pictures. And this is one of the biggest bees in my bonnet. To the parents of what seems like very single “younger than 13″ child that has an Instagram account, justifying breaking the “Terms of Services” that clearly dictate users need to be 13, doesn’t fly. It simply doesn’t. When asked why, you’ll hear over and over again, “Its okay, we’re checking it and she/he is definitely more mature.” But here’s what you are doing to the rest of us. Right out of the box, children are begin taught that the rules don’t apply. Reread that. “My parents got me an Instagram account even though I’m not old enough. Its okay. The rules don’t apply to me.” And in the most visible way, the social dominos begin to fly. On Monday morning everyone is talking about those pictures on Instagram that not everyone can see. Or for those who do see they get an “in your face” image of the party they didn’t get an invite too. At our children’s most vulnerable age for learning social dynamics, the bar just went up for the hardest lessons to be learned. And because we all have to be part of this crazy technological world, we are left to navigate each other’s parenting choices more visibly, and painfully, than ever before.

And that’s the thing that makes everyone the most uncomfortable. This all boils down to parenting. And self control. Kids don’t have handheld devices or online access at home unless it’s given to them. And we can’t live in a technologically driven world and expect them not to be online. But you better bet that as your child’s parent, you have the ultimate responsibility to be actively involved in shaping your kids’ online values and skills and it starts with you being willing to do the hard work every single day to make that happen. Here are a few things we do that you might consider:

Do you have a contract that outlines “If…then” so that your kids know what they can and can’t do and what happens when there are “learning opportunities” for redirection ~ translation “Busted, now what?”

Do you know what apps are on your kid’s phone and which friends they are texting with ~ not just by name but actually know the kids and parents?

Do you monitor your kids phone…every…single…day…from apps newly downloaded to deleted to new friends found in text?

Do you randomly check your child’s cell phone to see how she/he is communicating as well as the communication of others?

And most importantly, do you TALK to your kids about all of this? Every single step, letting them know taht YES you trust them but its a partnership where they are learning how to navigate the world and you do it together so they can be safe. That you are holding hands crossing the street and as they grow eventually they’ll be crossing on their own. You do it together so that they know that your job is to protect them and that as they learn the ropes they’ll be given more freedom. You do it together so that they understand its not them you are concerned about but the choices friends or strangers may make that could endanger them. You do it together so that they will trust you enough to come with you with an online bullying or mental health issue that needs adult intervention that could perhaps save a life. You do it together because YOU are the parent and its your job to guide.

Online safety for our kids is an ongoing conversion in our home that we simply can’t afford not to have. I know so many in this space think I’m old school, too strict, unrealistic ~ and I’m good with that. Because I’ve got one shot with my kids and that matters more to me than anyone’s opinion. Its hard and believe me, I struggle mightily with the conflict when my very passionate kids want their way. But if I want to get it right, I’ve got to honor our values as a family no matter what society throughs our way. No one said it would be easy, but it doesn’t have to be done alone. I’m hopeful that the partnership with our kids that this parenting stage requires to be successful lays a wonderful foundation for our relationships with them as grown adults. One can certainly hope.

Tell me…what is your greatest online safety concern for your kids?

Thanks so much for stopping by ~ see you next time!

Disclosure: This post was inspired and sponsored by Domain.ME the provider of the personal URLs that end in .ME. As a company, they aim to promote thought leadership to the tech world.

]]>http://www.gomominc.com/online-safety-for-kids-why-its-worth-the-fight/feed0A Summer Break from Blogginghttp://www.gomominc.com/a-summer-break-from-blogging
http://www.gomominc.com/a-summer-break-from-blogging#commentsMon, 29 Jun 2015 19:15:37 +0000http://www.gomominc.com/?p=10430Just in time for a busy July, I’m in the midst of a summer break from blogging. But here’s a hint ~ given the fact that I’m posting today and the fact that Back to School season is right around the corner (have you noticed school supplies in your local box box store yet?) my summer break from blogging is winding down. Completely unplanned ~ I know, I KNOW!!! ~ taking a break from blogging found me so

Just in time for a busy July, I’m in the midst of a summer break from blogging. But here’s a hint ~ given the fact that I’m posting today and the fact that Back to School season is right around the corner (have you noticed school supplies in your local box box store yet?) my summer break from blogging is winding down. Completely unplanned ~ I know, I KNOW!!! ~ taking a break from blogging found me so beyond content to keep my laptop closed and my keyboard quiet.

Somewhere in the process my subconscious took over and decided this obvious time off the grid had to happen now. I credit this shift to the following things:

A ridiculously fun first day of summer break from school ~ June 9th ~ that included my dear friend (who just happens to own the most amazing baby store in the universe!) and I taking our girls to the Taylor Swift concert here in Raleigh. Yes, we dressed up with our girls to look like the characters in the “Shake it Off” video and we even got a tweet from the Official Taylor Nation account praising our look! We made SO many great memories with our girls that night I couldn’t think of anywhere I’d rather be than home this summer, close by for my tween to know I’m here without smothering her and ready to enjoy her every bit that I can. Look for a post very soon about why I simply adore Taylor Swift and the magic of that concert for us all ~ seriously SO much good!

Spending the next few days getting our oldest ready to head out to Arizona for his summer internship with USA Baseball. While we are immensely proud of him for landing this incredible opportunity, sending him so far away wasn’t exactly what I had in mind the summer after his freshman year. Not unlike sending them off to college, we had all kinds of logistics and details to tackle so he had my full attention when he wasn’t at work. You’d think I’d figure out by now that what I have in mind isn’t always what happens. Especially with college kids.

Adjusting to a totally different summer routine. The youngest with a swim team practice time an hour earlier and wanting to spend all day a the pool ~ twist my arm would you? And the middle child trying out for football as a rising senior. Why no, he’s actually never played football, by all accounts is crushing it and oh my word possibly starting!!! Who knew? And why not? So proud of him for going for it ~ that will serve him so well as he too turns the corner on college. So while I’ve juggled many a summer schedule, this particular transition had me out of sorts. Having your kids tethered but with longer leashes and so much more freedom (and responsibility) will do that to even the most experienced Mom on the block.

Needing time to collect my blogging thoughts. So many ideas, so little time. So many social networks to maintain and early adopt ~ no I’m not on Periscope yet ~ so little time. So many website updates to freshen old posts and add beautiful photos keeping them evergreen for all, so little time. So many conferences to choose from, so little time. SO many things to work on, SO much potential, SO MUCH NOISE. Once I got through the end of the school year, I simply hit pause.

And because actions always and forever speak louder than words, I started this summer break with a summer break from blogging, totally present, in real life, and barely online.

Summer is my favorite season. I crave the constant sunshine all year long ~ I really think I’m one of those people who has problems with light deprivation in the winter no joke. I love the heat and wearing workout clothes and flip flops every day. Seriously, if you see me in actual shorts I’m dressed up! I have no problem wearing a ponytail and no make up everyday ~ primping at its most simplified and I’m all in for simplified. I love the endless freedom of hanging at the pool because I savor that time with my kids knowing its flashing before my very eyes as it rolls by. I love watching my kids play their favorite sports, competitive athletes all three. And for the first time as the Mom of a college kid I ADORE having all three of my kids home together for at least part of the summer. Playing, resting, reading, visiting, laughing, loving, being.

Summer is my exhale.

So every minute spent not doing what I love about this precious time with my family needs to be time exceptionally well spent. And early June found me very reflective about what I do and why I do it. After attending the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration in May (more to come this summer on that I promise!) I found myself asking that question…A LOT. So I found myself on this unplanned blogging break thinking about the answers.

What do I do?

My what seems pretty clear. First, I share videos and posts full of all kinds of tips that I so hope will help you celebrate and organize, navigate school, sports, and travel, and live a lifestyle you love. I share what is on my calendar and to do list now knowing that if its happening for me its probably happening for you too. I share a handful of time tested and Mom approved DIY Printable Planners that I have created that I KNOW will help you with some of the greatest organizational hotspots Moms deal with day in and day out. I work with brands as a digital media consultant most often helping them market to Moms but working in other channels as well. And truth be told, on my harder days, I daydream about jumping to the other side where budgets are big, teams are together, and success can be measured. Reaching key financial goals fights my creative heart for a more practical work life every, single, day. But we all know that so often the grass is always greener when viewed from the yard across the street.

So why do I do what I do?

And it’s the why that wins for me…every…single…time.

Because the why is my people, my family, my heart and soul.

My family is why I blog. My family is why I started GO MOM!® Inc. in 2000. My family is why I was blessed with the idea of a GO MOM!® Planner in the first place. My family is why I share tips on how to organize your home and manage your time along with a sprinkling other ideas as they come my way. Bottom line, my family is why I have anything at all to share. But I do this without sharing them. They are my inspiration but not my profit model. And I’m good with that even if social media monetization says I have to use my family in pictures or video to succeed in this crazy space. My family is why I continue to choose this unpredictable but flexible schedule ~ and if you know me you know how much I love unpredictability much less change ~ AHEM. My family is why I have not pursued a different kind of work life, which is not to say that someday I might not. But my family is why I am the business woman I am today.

My family has always been my why.

Now some social media “experts” may say I’ve got that backwards, that blogging because my family inspires me to create solutions that I think are worth sharing isn’t the golden ticket. But without my family, I wouldn’t have the blessing of living this life that inspires me with so many clever ideas. And based on my experience as a Mom, the best ideas are the ones we share with each other and adopt as our own by tweaking for our own family. So there’s a pretty great chance that often times you find these ideas cleaver and useful too.

I could not be more thankful. I can’t believe its been 15 years. When I started this journey I had one less child and the boys were in preschool and kindergarten. Fast forward to today and I simply can’t believe I have kids in college, high school, and middle school ~ how did THAT happen???

So there you have it.

Home with my people is where I’ve been, sharing videos and posts, products, and working with brands is what I do, and my family is the one word answer for why I do it. My summer is all about making memories that last a lifetime in between real life home and work to-do lists and childhood meltdowns, the tween emotional roller coaster and teens rolling their eyes, the sporting events and family celebrations that are so darn much fun, a much anticipated week at the beach sharks or no sharks ~ North Carolina at its finest~ not to mention staying up late to make sure people get home in time for curfew ~ can you so OMG???

I really am the Mom next door, taking it all one day at a time while I continue to color code my organized world. And I hope what I share helps you do the same. Here’s to a wonderful summer with your family and when you stop by, we so hope you are thrilled that you did. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

]]>http://www.gomominc.com/a-summer-break-from-blogging/feed2How to Manage Travel Sports and Summer Vacationhttp://www.gomominc.com/how-to-manage-travel-sports-and-summer-vacation
http://www.gomominc.com/how-to-manage-travel-sports-and-summer-vacation#commentsTue, 26 May 2015 15:10:46 +0000http://www.gomominc.com/?p=6777If you are a Mom with kids in travel sports, you probably just spent Memorial Day weekend on the sidelines cheering your player on. While families all over are starting their summer or nearing the end of the school year, your family is gearing up for a summer on the road managing packed weekends at tournaments all over the state (or beyond) and keeping the rest of your family happy too. Travel sports parents know their summer schedule

If you are a Mom with kids in travel sports, you probably just spent Memorial Day weekend on the sidelines cheering your player on. While families all over are starting their summer or nearing the end of the school year, your family is gearing up for a summer on the road managing packed weekends at tournaments all over the state (or beyond) and keeping the rest of your family happy too.

Travel sports parents know their summer schedule long before there is even a glimmer of those 90 degree dust and sweat filled days. For me, this schedule lock down happens in January and I’d be lying if I said I don’t look forward to the flurry of fun that this season always brings. With our oldest now in college we don’t have summer showcase baseball as the most dominant schedule issue. However thanks to our two younger athletes, we will spend this summer bouncing from softball and tennis tournaments to summer swim meets and high school football practices in between. And the truth is, we wouldn’t have it any other way. Our kids love their sports, they happen to be summer athletes, and so this is just what we do. That’s why this week is a great time to share a few ideas for you to keep in mind if like me, you are starting off summer knowing exactly where you’ll be, all summer long.

Create a Travel Sports Budget

If you haven’t already done so, create a travel sports budget now. We’ve got great budget planning worksheets in our DIY GO MOM!® Planner and you can’t afford not to keep track of expenses. Its really easy to spend mindlessly, especially on food, and if you are taking everyone to each travel sports event, you want to have enough resources to make room for some fun.

Leave Younger Kids at Home

Do you all really need to go? Lets face it, sometimes its just better to leave younger siblings at home. If the weather is miserable and the location is the pits with nothing to do, why punish yourselves by making everyone go? Your expenses will be lower, everyone will be happier, and you’ll actually have the chance to focus on the athlete who is competing instead of the children who aren’t happy and needing to be entertained. My husband and I split up often when this happens and there’s nothing wrong with hiring a babysitter for the day if you have to.

Schedule House and Yard Work for Weekdays

If your travel sports schedule has you gone every single weekend, there are a few things you need to make sure still happen, like house and yard work. When it comes to housework, create a cleaning schedule that happens during the week instead of the weekend. The same thing goes for yard work too. Let your kids know that they have a responsibility to help out, that because of their activities your family doesn’t have time for chores on the weekend and they have to step up and pitch in as part of the crew. Yard work and mowing the lawn can be easily done as a team during the week,

Hire Key Services When Needed

If your kids are competing in travel sports but still too young for using the lawn mower, don’t hesitate to hire a neighboring teen who would be happy to make that extra money. And if things really get nuts, you can always call in a one time cleaning service or more and get help for bigger projects when needed too.

Make Time for Family First

Family time. It has to be the most important thing about all of this. Just because your travel sports event might be in a fun place doesn’t mean you automatically get a lot of true family time together so you need to work hard to make that happen. There’s no question if your child has the opportunity to compete at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports, it would be very worthwhile for your entire family to make the most of those discounted travel packages and you’ll definitely make memories that last a lifetime. But if that’s not on your radar, you are going to have to work hard to find that extra time if you are all together and have fun. Or to create that time and bring eveyrone together you keep family first.

Its not worth it if your child doesn’t have fun.

Its not worth it if it’s not your child’s dream and they don’t want to work this hard.

Its not worth it if it causes friction among your family because of the logistical stress.

So do yourself a favor and get out that planner to mind your budget, your housework, look to be flexible and don’t insist on everyrone being together when its not optimal, and then look for those golden nuggets when family time will be the focus and you’ll all have a blast. It all begins with an organized plan and if you have that to work from, you’ll love every minute of your time as a sports Mom. Tell me…

How to you make travel sports a fun family experience for summer vacation?

I love sharing my own personal experiences raising three athletes and just like so many of you, we figure it out one season at at time. And you never know what your kids might do. Just to mix things up, this year our tennis player has decided to try out for high school football as a rising senior. And our rising middle schooler has decided she wants to train for cheerleading tryouts a year from now. So while our oldest is now in college and not playing competitive baseball, our younger two have just doubled their sports rosters and the scheduling challenges roll on! I love that they are both trying new things and who knows where it will lead them but I can be sure that they’ll have a ball every step of the way. Check out our Team Mom Pinterest Board for ideas we love and please leave us a comment ~ we’d love to know your favorite resources too!

]]>http://www.gomominc.com/how-to-manage-travel-sports-and-summer-vacation/feed611 Tips for a Great High School Graduation Partyhttp://www.gomominc.com/11-tips-for-a-great-high-school-graduation-party
http://www.gomominc.com/11-tips-for-a-great-high-school-graduation-party#commentsTue, 05 May 2015 12:30:54 +0000http://www.gomominc.com/?p=10411High school graduation season is upon us and if you are anything like me, you’ll want this event to be as perfect as can be. Last year our oldest graduated from high school and I was amazed at what a meaningful time it was not just for him for for our entire family as well. To celebrate this special time in our son’s life, we hosted a graduation party for family and our very closest friends.

High school graduation season is upon us and if you are anything like me, you’ll want this event to be as perfect as can be. Last year our oldest graduated from high school and I was amazed at what a meaningful time it was not just for him for for our entire family as well. To celebrate this special time in our son’s life, we hosted a graduation party for family and our very closest friends. The kickoff to a whirlwind graduation weekend that included Baccalaureate and his actual graduation too, my house was full of activity, hosting meals and having so very much fun. It was a wonderful 72 hours that I wish we could freeze in time.

To know me is to know I love to host a fabulous party where everyone, including me, has a great time. Because we had family from out of town and dear friends gathered too, it was key for me to make sure that things were well planned so my hostess duties would be seamless while I enjoyed the fun. Here are my tips for a great high school graduation party.

Invites

Typically sent about two weeks before your event, graduation parties can be tricky to schedule because not only is your child graduating but all their friends are too. So pick what’s best for your family and go from there. For us it was hosting the party on the Saturday night before graduation once everyone could come in town. You can choose to make the invite as formal or casual as you wish but my first suggestion is to ask your senior what he or she really wants. Our son wanted to do a simple Evite which was perfectly fine with me. And just yesterday I received a lovely combined graduation announcement and invitation to a brunch to follow and it was perfect.

Music

A graduation party playlist is always fun to create and easily shared by hooking up your iPod or iPhone and letting the tunes roll. Keep it upbeat because you’ll have no trouble being emotional all on your own and consider a mix of music that will appeal to all age groups.

Decor

Our son doesn’t like to draw a lot of attention to himself so he was not all in for tons of decorative chaos. So we went with his school colors for all the paper products and table clothes to anchor the graduation theme, added balloons in the same, and used graduation themed table confetti on the serving stations

Food

Our son loves to cookout so that was what he asked for his graduation party dinner. He asked for all his favorite foods and we were happy to meet those requests. Of course that put my husband on the grill for awhile but with a fun selection of yard games he had plenty of guests to keep him company while he cooked. Because much of what he wanted was salad based, I was able to make many of the items a day or two ahead of time which made final preparations a breeze. We took over our dining room to create a beautiful, casual buffet of food that was easily served and worthy of seconds. I had a variety of dips out for everyone to enjoy while the chef cooked and was amazed at how quickly it all went ~ it always does!

Dessert

This is where you get to show that school spirit! We served cupcakes in school colors with the year on display and this stand served as table decor in the kitchen where we knew everyone would linger anyway. We also had a graduation cake with the traditional “Congratulations” message, and one of the guests brought graduation cap cake pops too. I always offer fruit for anyone who does not favor sweets and the skewers were a hit too.

Beverage Station

Thanks to our casual theme we set up coolers on the deck with waters and soda. But inside I added a lemonade stand with straws in school colors and including tie on labels that you could personalize with chalk. Served in glass mason jars, I used cute cupcake liners in place of the metal tops. They were a huge hit no matter if you chose lemonade or put another beverage in its place.

Childhood Picture Display

In all my research, having baby pictures on display was a constant theme. Because we have a handful of family portraits in the house I didn’t feel the need to pull out all the stops. But I did love the idea of having pictures from birthdays displayed. One idea I fell in love with was hanging a picture from every birthday on a balloon but my boy was having none of that. Something far more low-key was barely agreed to. So our ottoman has a serving tray on it that usually holds the daily newspaper. For the party I made a collage of pictures of birthdays over the years to show our son throughout his life. It was a fantastic conversation piece that let me share his baby pictures without embarrassing him too much.

Senior Picture Display

Pick a nice visible location to display these cherished momentos. If you can, choose shots that you do not include in the graduation announcement to just give another glimpse of the amazing young adult your child has become. If your senior participated in a sport or special event where seniors were recognized with photos or other memorabilia be sure to display that too. Our son had both his senior banner that hung at the baseball field all season and his photo jersey that senior parents make to display at the field for senior night. Everyone loved seeing them both.

Advice Cards

I fell in love with this idea when I saw the cards on the website where we purchased graduation announcements. I had custom cards made in school colors (of course) with the purpose of enabling our guests to write a note of encouragement to our son. Next to this I included a bucket for guests to place cards they may have brought along as well. And I also included a small bucket with wallet sized graduation pictures for everyone to take home too.

Games

Because our party was a cook out theme, it was easy to fill the yard with corn hole, croquet, have a football to toss, and have kids on the basketball hoop. No matter where you have your party, consider making sure you’ve got games for kids of all ages to play. The best part about this is how the grown ups and kids team up and play together.

Pictures and Video

If you have a family member who loves to take pictures and video, its always a blessing to let them do the shooting while you do the hosting. But if that’s not the case, be mindful of taking key shots like your senior with his or her friends if they are present, with each family unit that is present, and lots of pictures with his or her immediate family too. One of my favorite series from this night was making sure to take a picture of our son with every family as they left. So no matter if it was our family or our friends who we love like family, he has a picture with each and every one of them to cherish forever.

No matter what you do, remember that this party is a celebration and if you gather family and close friends, you can’t go wrong by surrounding your child with all that love and fellowship. Tell me…

What is your best graduation party tip?

If you have stumbled on this post and are just entering your child’s senior year of high school, check out A Mom’s Guide to Senior Year for all kinds of tips to help you get and stay organized along the way. Check out our Graduation Pinterest Board where you’ll find all kinds of pins from around the web. Thanks so much for stopping by ~ we’ll see you next time!

]]>http://www.gomominc.com/11-tips-for-a-great-high-school-graduation-party/feed0How to Organize Your Pantry with Lazy Susanshttp://www.gomominc.com/how-to-organize-your-pantry-with-lazy-susans
http://www.gomominc.com/how-to-organize-your-pantry-with-lazy-susans#commentsMon, 04 May 2015 17:47:58 +0000http://www.gomominc.com/?p=10407Today we are talking about how to use Lazy Susans in your pantry. I’ve had the same size pantry for 17 years. Purely a coincidence the house I lived in for seven years before this one happens to have the exact same pantry design as the home I currently have lived in for ten. Actually you’ll see that my pantry is not outfitted with a custom organization solution and it has a hard right angle

Today we are talking about how to use Lazy Susans in your pantry. I’ve had the same size pantry for 17 years. Purely a coincidence the house I lived in for seven years before this one happens to have the exact same pantry design as the home I currently have lived in for ten. Actually you’ll see that my pantry is not outfitted with a custom organization solution and it has a hard right angle in the back. I finally figured out that Lazy Susans are the way to maximize that corner ~ and no, I don’t know what it took me so long to figure this out!

So here are the five ways Lazy Susans have transformed my pantry from top to bottom. Its made huge difference in how we are using the space and my kids and husband alike have said its the bomb. So I think it will have a positive impact on keeping this space tidy for the long haul ~ check it out!

Paper Goods Lazy Susan

I went ahead and put all of our paper goods on an 18″ Lazy Susan and the digging for it all is gone. It holds paper plates, paper napkins, plastic cutlery, and solo cups making it easy for everyone to grab and go.

Breakfast Foods Lazy Susan

This holds all our most frequently used breakfast items making it easy for anyone to get what they need. Think protein powders, oatmeal, honey, peanut butter, jelly, and more.

Snack Foods Lazy Susan

I don’t know about your family but mine is all about snacking. So to stop the madness of containers getting placed randomly on each and every shelf, the Lazy Susan has put them all in one place. They will find protein bars, graham crackers, nuts, and anything else we might have in that same category.

Baking Supplies Lazy Susan

This might be my favorite addition! I chose a two tiered lazy susan to place all of our baking supplies. Our daughter is a big baker and this makes it super easy for her to see all of her baking decorations, colorful muffin tins, and find the confectioners sugar for homemade frosting ~ something she is fabulous at making!

Adult Beverage Lazy Susan

We keep minimal alcohol in the house for when we entertain which makes it a not used very often item. Therefore its always been stored on the top shelf of the pantry. Having the 18′ Lazy Susan makes it so easy to find the one thing you need and because those bottles can be heavy it makes it much easier to navigate getting them down because you don’t have to move anything out of the way.

And look at the final product!

Its made such a huge difference and I love it! Everytime I open the pantry door I think “Oh look how organized!” And I’m finding that my family isn’t leaving things out and actually putting them back where they are intended to go. And that was the entire point in the first place!

So tell me…

How do you use Lazy Susans in your pantry?

Where else in your home do you use a Lazy Susan?

I’m finding that they are the bomb! One of the most old fashioned organizing tools there is and look at the magic it worked on my pantry corner!

]]>http://www.gomominc.com/how-to-organize-your-pantry-with-lazy-susans/feed0Memorabilia Organizing Tips for Mayhttp://www.gomominc.com/memorabilia-organizing-tips-for-may
http://www.gomominc.com/memorabilia-organizing-tips-for-may#commentsFri, 01 May 2015 12:30:24 +0000http://www.gomominc.com/?p=10398May is the month that seems to deliver more keepsakes than any other time of year. From photos to greeting cards, certificates and awards, treasured artwork and photos from special events, May is game on for things coming into your home that have a very special meaning. But the challenge is knowing exactly what to do with all that stuff. Which is why we so often put off tasks related to memorabilia. We have sentimental feelings associated with that

May is the month that seems to deliver more keepsakes than any other time of year. From photos to greeting cards, certificates and awards, treasured artwork and photos from special events, May is game on for things coming into your home that have a very special meaning. But the challenge is knowing exactly what to do with all that stuff. Which is why we so often put off tasks related to memorabilia. We have sentimental feelings associated with that stuff and it can be hard to discern what’s really worth keeping. And once we decide to keep it, what to actually do with it.

If you are working Your 12 Month Organizing Plan, organizing memorabilia is next step in your year long journey to tackle one organizing focus each month. This plan is designed to follow what you are naturally thinking about right now so when it comes to May, your camera is constantly recharging, you are sharing sentiments of love and congratulations to your family and friends, and your children are bringing home WAY too many special works of art. So check out our memorabilia organizing tips for May to point you in the right direction!

My kids have always had a place for things that have special meaning just to them. Its not my place to tell them what the should or should not cherish. But I can certainly help them figure out where to put it long term.

Because May is the month when ALL the things begin to come home from school and if you don’t have a system, you won’t keep what your child loves. No really ~ you will throw it out. And maybe that’s the plan. But just to make sure that you keep what you love we’ve got some tips to help you organize what’s left.

You might notice that I don’t have a post here about organizing photos. That’s because this May I’m starting a series that will cover all kinds of photo organizing tips. Last spring, as our first child neared high school graduation, I found myself buried in the reality of my less than organized digital and hard copy photo life. This one area is truly my organizing nemesis for all the reasons I’ve listed above. I take THOUSANDS of pictures and don’t organize them well digitally, print them out, or enjoy them for the memories they offer. And I have THOUSANDS of hard copy photos in boxes that I don’t enjoy as well. Once I survived the stress of finding all the photos of our son’s life that I wanted to share a graduation, I vowed right then and there that I would slay the organized photos dragon for once and for all. A work in progress, with time and patience I am excited to get that battle won. As I share new posts, I’ll update this round up post too so that you’ll have the total package for next time. Tell me…

How to you organize memorabilia in your home?

If you do better with a checklist or two to point you in the right direction, we’ve got a FREE printable for that! As a special thank you to our GO MOM! Email Subscribers, we have a wonderful FREE Printables library to help you get and stay organized in many ways. You’ll find our FREE 12 Month Home Organizing Plan and Room by Room Home Organizing Plan Checklist there as well as our brand new Home Management Bundle which has some wonderful Cleaning Checklists to help you every week, all year long. If you love Pinterest, be sure to check out our May Memorablia Organizing Tips and Photo Organizing Pinterest Boards or all kinds of fabulous inspiration.

Tacking these areas can be harder than you ever imagined. So don’t rush it. While I’ve shared this in May, managing memorabilia is worth taking your time so you do it right. Not only will you love how it feels to have these cherished mementos organized you’ll find you finally enjoy them too and that’s what this is all about!

]]>http://www.gomominc.com/memorabilia-organizing-tips-for-may/feed0Rainy Day Must Haves {What to Pack for Disney}http://www.gomominc.com/rainy-day-must-haves-what-to-pack-for-disney
http://www.gomominc.com/rainy-day-must-haves-what-to-pack-for-disney#commentsThu, 30 Apr 2015 14:13:32 +0000http://www.gomominc.com/?p=10385Today I am at Hollywood Studios as part of our visit during the #WDWBigFun Tween Fam Trip and unfortunately it has been raining. Its actually been pouring, like buckets of rain oh my gosh its colder than I want it to be wind blowing rain in your face kind of rain and then it stops…for a bit. And let’s face it, if you have rain on your vacation it can make for a miserable day and

Today I am at Hollywood Studios as part of our visit during the #WDWBigFun Tween Fam Trip and unfortunately it has been raining. Its actually been pouring, like buckets of rain oh my gosh its colder than I want it to be wind blowing rain in your face kind of rain and then it stops…for a bit. And let’s face it, if you have rain on your vacation it can make for a miserable day and that can be hard to manage no matter what ages your kids may be. So today I’ve got some great tips on rainy day must haves that will make it a lot easier to keep the magic alive!

Mini Umbrellas

Pack as many umbrellas as you have people in your party. The small ones fit nicely into any bag and as your kids get older, they’ll likely be carrying their own so its just one more thing they will be able to easily manage. This small size is also the best for navigating big crowds because you won’t likely unknowingly bump into anyone.

Waterproof Bag

Carry a waterproof bag that can handle all your gear. Its key that it has a zipper so it can truly protect all that you might be carrying inside ~ think any kind of technology and more.

Rain Gear

Not only do you want to carry a rain coat but you also want to cary ponchos too. They are longer and therefore will provide better coverage when you need it most ~ think sitting down on rides or any outdoor seating that might be wet.

Footwear

Pack an extra pair of shoes which could easily be flip flops or an extra pair of socks. Either way the point here is if your feet aren’t comfortable because they are soggy, you’ll be miserable too.

Large Ziplock Bags

For anything that gets incredibly wet you’ll want to have some way to store it without it damaging the other items in your bag. So make sure to carry a few of these just incase you really need to contain something soggy.

Baseball Caps

A rainy day must have for everyone in your family, a baseball cap will help keep the rain off your face and for anyone who wears glasses, you know how helpful that can be. Its also just one more layer between you and your raincoat or poncho and that rain.

So these are my tips to help you manage the parks in the rain. For our day at Hollywood Studios, we were still able to enjoy some of Hollywood Studios’ “must do” attractions for tweens both inside and out…

And we even got to end our day with Fantasmic too!

Part of what is always awesome about Hollywood Studios is the sense that you are on a movie set. As we exited the park and walked past Cinderella’s carriage it was almost as if she was going to appear at any minute!

The bottom line is when it comes to rain, its all about your frame of mind. Be ready for unexpected rain and if you know its coming, plan your activities accordingly. You can have a fabulous time but you simply have to come prepared. Tell me…

What is your top rainy day must have item when you visit Walt Disney World?

No matter what kind of weather you find on your next trip to Walt Disney World, it all begins with a magical plan. Check out our Disney Tips Pinterest Board for a myriad of ideas and our Disney Vacation Planning Tips playlist over on YouTube to help you with the finer points. Finally for that ultimate packing list, visit our FREE Printables Library where you’ll find our two page form with all the reminders you need for both you AND your kids to pack up and go.

]]>http://www.gomominc.com/rainy-day-must-haves-what-to-pack-for-disney/feed2Fun Activities for Teacher Appreciation Weekhttp://www.gomominc.com/fun-activities-for-teacher-appreciation-week
http://www.gomominc.com/fun-activities-for-teacher-appreciation-week#commentsWed, 29 Apr 2015 16:45:32 +0000http://www.gomominc.com/?p=6626For Room Moms all over the country, its game on for deciding what to do for National Education Associations’ Teacher Appreciation Week. Because it so often falls the week before Mother’s Day, it can be a busy time for volunteers at home and at school. Most PTAs provide guidelines about required activities and in some schools, this can last all week long. A few years ago, my daughter’s school decided to mix things up and make

For Room Moms all over the country, its game on for deciding what to do for National Education Associations’ Teacher Appreciation Week. Because it so often falls the week before Mother’s Day, it can be a busy time for volunteers at home and at school. Most PTAs provide guidelines about required activities and in some schools, this can last all week long. A few years ago, my daughter’s school decided to mix things up and make Teacher Appreciation Week happen in just one day. Why? Because all the daily activity was so disruptive that it made for more mayhem than blessing and that wasn’t the goal. Here is what we do:

Know Your Teacher

Before you plan your National Teacher Appreciation Week Activities, make sure you know what your teacher loves. Our PTA keeps a Teacher Profile Binder in the front office that anyone can view. There you’ll find an entire page full of your teacher’s favorite everything, interest, hobbies and more. It makes it super easy to choose a theme and get gift ideas all year long. And its important to know your teacher’s true interest. Its fair to say that most will love anything personalized from the child however there are those that are very practical grateful always for anything that supports the classroom and others who are all about their favorite things. So check the list before your start.

Door Decor

Room parents are asked to decorate classroom doors enlisting the children’s assistance in some element of the design. The school is transformed with all kinds of colorful and creative designs and everyone enjoys such glorious displays of thanks. This year the kids just loved our “Thanks a Latte” theme because their teacher is all about her Starbucks every day all year long. They got a kick out of personalizing their coffee cups and adding them to the jumbo personalized cup we made for the teacher. Thanks to free printables on Pinterest they were a snap to make!

Student Created Gifts in the Classroom

Because the end of the year is just weeks away, our school policy is to leave the choice to give a Teacher Appreciation Gift to each family to make on their own. But as a room parent, I like to make sure every child has a way to thank the teacher on this special day because I know that given the chance, surely they’d have something special to say. And this this is where the child participation part of this day can really shine. This year we offered each student a “Thanks a Latte for All Your Do” notecard that I made with a free printable I found via Pinterest from eighteen25. By printing it on card stock, the note had the feel of high quality stationary and the kids thought that was fabulous. We hung them across the classroom but could have just as easily made them into a special book.

Teacher Gifts from Your Family

In our family we choose to gift our teachers on Teacher Appreciation Day. Because we’ll be gifting our teachers at the end of the year, this gift is often just a small gesture and almost always something my youngest can do all on her own. We’ve got a post full of clever and affordable ideas that might be just the right idea if your family choose to offer a gift this year.

Lunch on Us

Our PTA provides the teachers with a lovely catered lunch. To make it easy for them to enjoy as they wish, room parents and volunteers take each class to lunch and then return with the children to the classroom and spend 30 minutes enlisting their help for the door decoration and playing games or reading books to entertain them during free time. Ask any teacher in that building and its that time eating lunch with their colleagues and not in the lunch room with 300 children that is the most cherished gift of the day! If this isn’t something your school does its easy to bring lunch one day and offer to take the kids for your teacher too.

A Favorite A Day

If you find you are left to your own ideas for how to thank your child’s teachers, one of the easiest ways to spread out the effort is to choose a simple theme each and every day. Choose things like a favorite dessert, favorite beverage, favorite flower, and favorite color and then send in a very small gift that reflects those. End the week with a “What I Love About” note to the teacher and your child will have made his or her week. This is a fabulous class wide activity too.

As both a room Mom and involved volunteer, I’m grateful our PTA leads the way making it easy to know how to thank our teachers. Tell me…

How do you recognize your child’s educators during Teacher Appreciation Week?

]]>http://www.gomominc.com/fun-activities-for-teacher-appreciation-week/feed34 Spaces to Spring Clean Nowhttp://www.gomominc.com/4-spaces-to-spring-clean-now
http://www.gomominc.com/4-spaces-to-spring-clean-now#commentsTue, 28 Apr 2015 14:39:49 +0000http://www.gomominc.com/?p=10319The Spring clean season is upon us and for those who have been at it for awhile, by now you might be over the thrill of fresh and clean spaces and ready for your cleaning to-do list to be done. At GO MOM! it only makes sense that we start the Spring clean conversation in line with the first day of the season, so yes we’ve been at this since late March. However if you

The Spring clean season is upon us and for those who have been at it for awhile, by now you might be over the thrill of fresh and clean spaces and ready for your cleaning to-do list to be done. At GO MOM! it only makes sense that we start the Spring clean conversation in line with the first day of the season, so yes we’ve been at this since late March. However if you are only just beginning or ready to put away your cleaning caddy, today we’ve got 4 spaces for you to organize now. Why? Because they are spaces that will when well organized, will help you move through the busy days of this fun season ahead. Check it out!

While this post focuses on organizing some of the most often used items in spring, its also a great time to edit out all that crazy plastic wear and any plastic cups that seem to have grown in number over the Winter.

Since you are already digging under there for cleaning supplies, now is as good a time as ever to take a few quick minutes and give the under sink area its own makeover. There are all kinds of accessories you can add there but I’m a bit of a practical gal so much beyond the caddy and things I need every day, less is more when it comes to this storage space.

How I PRAY you don’t need any meds this Spring but if you do, you need to make sure your medicine cabinet is well stocked and ready to go. Editing medicine that is expired and stocking up on medicines that Spring and Summer require is just well organized common sense.

Lets not be naive here ~ depending on the state of your garage this one will take a full day or more. But for busy Moms, the garage is it’s own epicenter and revolving door all in one. Emptying it, giving it a good scrub down (yes clean it for real) and then putting back only what your family truly uses is the best kind of ready for Spring and Summer start. You’ll also be motivated to get out and enjoy life beyond your home.

If you do better with a checklist or two to point you in the right direction, we’ve got a FREE printable for that! As a special thank you to our GO MOM! Email Subscribers, we have a wonderful FREE Printables library to help you get and stay organized in many ways. You’ll find our Spring Cleaning Checklist, our FREE 12 Month Home Organizing Plan and Room by Room Home Organizing Plan Checklist, and our brand new Home Management Bundle which has some wonderful Cleaning Checklists to help you every week, all year long. If you love Pinterest, be sure to check out our Spring Cleaning Tips Pinterest Board for all kinds of cleaning inspiration. And believe me, I so totally need them because while I LOVE to organize, the cleaning thing? Not so much!